Oh Se-hoon: "Welcome the Bus Strike Withdrawal... Strike Warnings Must Not Be Repeated"

[Financial News] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon welcomed the agreement reached in wage negotiations between labor and management of the Seoul city bus system on the 16th and the withdrawal of the planned full-scale strike. However, he stressed that the possibility of conflict remains because a lawsuit over the reference hours used to calculate ordinary wages is ongoing, and that future negotiations must not repeatedly begin with warnings of a full-scale strike. Oh posted a message on Facebook that day titled "Welcome the Agreement Between Labor and Management of the Seoul City Bus System and the Withdrawal of the Strike," saying, "As labor and management of Seoul’s city buses reached an agreement, the planned full-scale strike was also withdrawn." He added, "I am relieved that we can protect citizens’ commutes and daily lives as usual without major disruption."
He continued, "I respect the decision by both labor and management to find common ground after holding lengthy discussions on difficult issues," adding, "I also thank them for recognizing the serious harm that would have befallen citizens and choosing an agreement instead of a strike."
However, he pointed out that the possibility of conflict over ordinary wages remains despite the agreement. Oh said, "This agreement has not resolved every issue," adding, "Since a lawsuit over the reference hours used to calculate ordinary wages is ongoing, the possibility of conflict still remains."
In particular, he stressed that strikes must not be prioritized in future labor-management negotiations. Oh said, "The practice of unilaterally setting a deadline and warning of a full-scale strike before sufficient negotiations have even taken place, as happened this time, must never be repeated." He added, "Labor and management should continue talking and negotiate vigorously until they find common ground, but citizens’ commutes and livelihoods must not be threatened in the process."
He further emphasized, "Workers’ legitimate rights must be fully guaranteed, while labor, management and the Seoul Metropolitan Government must work together to establish a sustainable operating system that citizens can accept and that Seoul’s finances can support." He added, "Rather than one side making unilateral demands, labor, management and the Seoul Metropolitan Government must put their heads together based on citizens’ expectations."
Oh added, "Above all else, public transportation must prioritize citizens’ safety and peaceful daily lives." He continued, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government will remain fully prepared under any circumstances so that citizens’ transportation is never brought to a halt, and we will fulfill our responsibility to the end by creating a public transportation environment that citizens can use with confidence."

[email protected] Seong Cho-rong Reporter